Menu
Fri, 4 April 2025
OPINION All
Universities are uniquely placed to drive innovation and deliver economic growth Partner content
Education
‘Now or never’ moment approaches for delivering Labour’s election teacher pledge Partner content
Education
Education
Communities
Press releases

Theresa May’s ex-policy chief calls for the state to pay for gap-years

1 min read

The state should pay for school leavers to work on aid projects during gap years, Conservative MP George Freeman has said.


Mr Freeman, who resigned as head of Number 10’s policy board on Monday, that he would like to see young people sent on work placements with the Department for International Development in an interview with The Times published today.

“I want to give every school-leaver the chance of a month on the front line around the world for the Department for International Development, a sort of peace corps for our times” he said.

“We should grant every school and college-leaver the right to a three-month or six-month work placement with a free travel pass, so you can’t leave school or college without having a taste of life.”

Mr Freeman also warned that the Conservatives faced a “deepening disconnection” with young voters, and needed a “reboot moment” to detoxify the party.

Read the most recent article written by Alex Hacillo - Philip Hammond 'forced to abandon' private school VAT plans